Letter: Judy inducted into Hall of Fame

Ray Bravo, Chairman, Hall of Fame CommitteeSt. Augustine

Published Sunday, March 09, 2003

Editor: The induction of Lyle L. Judy into the St. Johns County, St. Augustine Sports Club Hall of Fame was held recently at Quincy's Restaurant. Over 65 members and guests were in attendance for this annual event which recognizes individuals who have contributed outstanding service to sports in our county. Special guests were Mrs. Lyle Judy and son Lyle Jr., who brought his family from Ormond Beach.

It was a very moving and inspiring ceremony with several of Judy's friends recalling his career in professional baseball, his job after retirement, with the Florida East Coast Railway as a draftsman, and his service to his lord as a deacon of Memorial Presbyterian Church. Lyle Judy broke a number of records during his long baseball career from 1934 until his retirement in 1950. His name appears three times in the Florida State League of Professional Baseball Clubs Inc. He played the most games in a lifetime - 1,013; he holds the record for the most bases on balls for a season, 153 in 1950; and as a second basesman, most assists in a season in 1948. In 1935, he broke organized baseball's base-stealing record with a then unheard of 107 stolen bases. At the time he was playing for the Springfield Cardinals (a class C farm team for St. Louis). After breaking the record, Mr. Judy received a telegram of congratulations from Ty Cobb, whose record Judy broke. In comparison, the 100 level for stolen bases wasn't reached in the major leagues until the 1970s. He stole second base 57 times, third, 32 times, and home, 18 times.

It was an auto accident in 1935 which kept him from playing professional ball with the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. Louis papers called the injury to Mr. Judy the Cards "greatest setback in 10 years."

Mr. Judy continued to play baseball in the minor leagues in Sacramento, Baltimore, Dayton, Trenton and then in 1938 in St. Augustine and the Florida State League. He ended his playing days with the Palatka Azaleas in 1950.

"I played one year with him, and he was one of the finest infielders there in the Florida State League," said J. Edward "Red" Cox. "He was a great team player, he hustled all the time. He never gave up, he gave 100 percent plus."

Mr. Judy passed away in January 1991 in Ormond Beach. The Judy Exhibit, along with 15 other past inductees, is displayed in the Sports Club Hall of Fame Exhibit at the entrance of the St. Johns County Administration Building.